Peggy Glanville-Hicks
The Transposed Heads
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Composer:Peggy Glanville-HicksGenre:OperaStyle:OperaCompose Date:1953Average_duration:76:36The Transposed Heads is an opera composed by Peggy Glanville-Hicks in 1954. The plot is based on a novella by Thomas Mann, which tells the story of two friends, Shridaman and Nanda, who accidentally have their heads transposed by the goddess Kali. The two men are in love with the same woman, Sita, and the transposition causes confusion and conflict in their relationships. The opera is divided into three movements, each representing a different stage in the story. The first movement introduces the characters and sets up the conflict between Shridaman and Nanda. The second movement focuses on the transposition of their heads and the resulting chaos. The final movement resolves the conflict and brings the story to a close. One of the characteristics of Glanville-Hicks' music is its use of Indian classical music elements, which reflects the story's setting in ancient India. The opera also features a large orchestra, including traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar and tabla. The Transposed Heads premiered in 1954 at the City Center Opera in New York City. The production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie and featured a cast of notable opera singers, including Norman Treigle and Phyllis Curtin. The opera received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the music and others finding it too complex and difficult to follow. Despite its mixed reception, The Transposed Heads remains an important work in Glanville-Hicks' oeuvre and in the history of American opera. Its use of Indian classical music elements and its exploration of themes such as identity and love make it a unique and compelling work.More....
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